Senior Manager, Defense Programs

Lead customer engagement and execution across a growing portfolio of government and industry programs. Reporting directly to the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO), you will own commitments from award through demonstration, delivery, and operational fielding. You will serve as the primary day-to-day interface for assigned customers and partners, coordinating engineering, operations, supply chain, and leadership to deliver on cost, schedule, scope, and contractual commitments. Aurelius Systems is a VC backed defense tech startup building autonomous, edge deployed directed energy systems for counter-UAS.

Responsibilities

Customer relationships and program leadership across government and industry programs, including reviews, planning meetings, and execution updates; Program schedules, milestones, budgets, deliverables, resource plans, and risk management across multiple concurrent efforts; Cross-functional execution with engineering, operations, supply chain, and external partners from development through delivery; Early identification of program risks, corrective actions, customer issues, and decisions requiring executive attention; Planning and execution of government demonstrations, test events, operational assessments, and customer deployments; Customer expectations, contract requirements, scope changes, cost-to-complete estimates, and resource forecasts; Clear, timely program reporting, accountability for commitments, and practical program management processes; Support for proposals, follow-on opportunities, and transitions from demonstrations to production and fielding

Requirements

7+ years in defense program management, government acquisition, military program execution, or defense industry operations; Experience in a customer-facing program management, government acquisition, or comparable leadership role; Demonstrated success managing complex programs with multiple stakeholders, budgets, schedules, and deliverables; Strong understanding of Department of Defense organizations, acquisition processes, and government-industry relationships; Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and manage competing priorities while maintaining customer trust; Technical aptitude to collaborate effectively with engineering teams, paired with excellent written and verbal communication; Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant military, government, or industry experience

Nice to have

Experience with counter-UAS, directed energy, air defense, or related defense technologies; Experience with Other Transaction agreements, FAR-based contracts, or DoD rapid acquisition pathways; Experience with defense technology development, prototyping, demonstrations, or rapid fielding; Experience in an early-stage or growth-stage defense technology company; Active U.S. security clearance; eligibility to obtain and maintain a clearance and willingness to travel to government sites and test events

Benefits

Competitive salary + equity; United Health Care medical, dental, and vision coverage; 18 days PTO, flexible sick days, and two-week winter break; Real ownership over your work